Mat.



'R G. L T. 0. MOPHBRSON.

MAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27,1913.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"il" STTESMFATENT FFCE.

FRANK G. MCPHERSON AND THOMAS C. MCPHERSON, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO KEYSTONE WIRE MATTING C0., OF BEAVER FALLS,

PENNSYLVANIA.

MAT.

resarcir.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 17, 1.91.4.

To all f/,ez om. it may (1o/acera Be it known that we. FRANK G. MG- lninzsoN and '.luoams (l. Molnnnson, citizens ot the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county ot Beaver and State oit Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Mat. of which the vfollowing is a specitication.

The invention relates to improvements in mats.

The object ot the 'present invention is to improve the construction ot that type ot mat, illust ated and described in a patent granted to Thomas C. McPherson, Mar. 7, 1905, No. 784,222, and to provide a 'flexible mat composed oit' hingedly connected .sections equipped with spaced pad or mat blocks and provided with simple and inexpensive means :for completely binding' the blocks, whereby a mat of great strength and durability is produced.

lith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the ctmstruction and novel combimition oi.' parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the 'tor-m, proportion, size and minor details ot construction, within the scope ot the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit 0r sacrificing any oil the adi/'antagcs oit the invention.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view ott' a portion of a mat, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. Q is an enlarged horizontal sectional View of a portion of the mat. Fig. 3 is a plan View ot the mat, illustrating another torm of the blocks. Fig. 4l is a detail sectional View on he line AVIt-4l ol' Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line of Fig. l. Fig. (3 is a detail perspective View, illustrating' the arrangement oit the terminal portions ot the binding strips et one of the sections.

Like numerals ot reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures ot the drawings.

ln the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment ot the invention. the mat comprises in its construction a plurality ol sections hinged together. the sections heilig' preferably disposed transversel)y ot a mat when the same is ot' oblong torni, and the mats may be ot any size and the sections may extend. in either direction as will be readily understood. The sections otI the mat shown in Figs. 'l and 2 are clpiippcd with oblong blocks l, designed to be cmistructed ot cork or other suitable material and arranged in spaced relation, the blocks oit the adjacent rows being alternatelyr arranged, so that the ends oft the blocks ot each row are located opposite or in alinement with the intervals or spaces between the blocks ot the adjacent rows. Each end row ot a mat has its blocks preferably arranged so that its terminal blocks will occur at the corners ot the mat, one end portion ot the mat being' illustrated in Fig. l and the blocks ot the marginal end row thereot being' arranged in this inanner. This arrangeimnt provides a strong corner construction, but a mat may be made up ot any desired number ot rows, and the terminal blocks ot' the margimil row may occur iu the corners ol the mat or otherwise.

The blocks l oft the marginal row or section and each alternate ro f are bound by strips Q, arranged in pairs and constructed oit' metal ol a width slightly less than the thickness ot the blocks and oppositely bent at intervals to :t'orm similar approximatelyT U-shaped bends or loops I-S. which open toward each other and embrace the blocks and ilorm. complete metallic bindings :For the saine. The upper and lower edges ot the metallic binding strips terminate short ol the upper and lower laces ot the blocks, which project slightly beyond the metallic binding' so as to present yielding surfaces to the sul'iporting surface on which the mat is placed and also to the feet. llach ot the loops or bends ot the strips preferably cxtends around one half oit a block, and while each ot the. strips 2 is preferably constructed of a single piece ot metal oit' sullicient length to extend entirely across the mat, this, ot course, not essential and one or more pieces may be employed in the construction of a binding strip. The binding strips are lent at the corners of the blocks and also at points intermediate of the ends thereof to form straight intewening connecting portions el, which abut against each other. The straight intervening connection portions, which are located between the spaced blocks, may be secured together by rivets 5, or any other suitable fastening means. construction, the fastening means are located beyond the bloclfs in the spaces between the same.

The terminal portions of the binding strips 2 are located at the outer side edges of the end blocks of the sections, and are overlapped and secured together by a rivet 7, or other suitable fastening device, and they are preferably reduced at 'the side edges to form recesses 8 for the reception of cap plates 9. The cap plates 9, which are approximately U-shaped in cross section, have their side portions fitted against the upper and lower edges of the recessed terminal portions G of the strips 2, and they are provided with inturned longitudinal edges, which form flanges 10 for engaging the back of the overlapped terminal portions 6 of the said binding strips. The cap plates are preferably constructed of pliable metal and before being. applied to the mat are open a suiiicient distance to permit them to be placed in position, after which they are compressed into engagement with the end portions of the binding strips 2. The recessing of the terminal portions 6 of the binding strips 2 arranges the upper and lower side portions of the cap plates in flush relation with the upper and lower faces of the mat.

rEhe blocks of the rows between those having the binding strips 2 are bound by metallic strips 11., constructed and arranged similar to the metallic strips 2 with the exception of their terminal portions 12, which are bent outwardly from the adjacent straight abutting portions and overlap slightly the terminal loops or bends of the strips 2. The terminal portions 12 are provided at'their ends with perforations for the reception of pintle rods 13 of wire, or other suitable material, piercing the end portions of the blocks and the metallic binding loops thereof and having their terminals 1a arranged exteriorly of the terminals 6 of the binding strips 2 and bent inwardly toward each other and arranged beneath the cap plates 9, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The blocks of rows of a mat are arranged in overlapping relation, and the pintle rods hinge the sections of the mat together and form a fieXible mat and enable the same to be readily folded over for sweeping beneath the same, or for any other purpose. The pintle rods piercing the ends of By this Y to the sides of the mat and pierce the adja- Y cent terminals 6 of the strips 2 and have their ends concealed by and arranged beneath the cap plates. The rods 16, which occur at the intervening sections having the metallic binding strips 11, preferably terminate at the outer sides of the end blocks of such sections and have angular-ly bent terminal portions 17, which are bent against the adjacent binding strips, whereby the rods 16 are securely retained in place.

`The blocks 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings are of uniform size and shape, but the mat may be equipped with blocks of different sizes and shapes, and in Fig. 3 of the drawings is illustrated a mat equipped with approximately triangular blocks 18 and oblong blocks 19. Blocks, however, of any other desired form may, of course, be employed, and metallic binding strips 20 and 21 of the mat shown in Fig. 3 are constructed and arranged substantially the same as the binding strips illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the only difference residing in the shape of the binding portions or loops, which are bent to conform to the configuration of the blocks 1S and 19. n

rEhe ends of the mat are preferably bound by a rod of wire or other suitable material 22, bent in the form of a linlr with the terminals arranged at the inner side thereof. rlhe inner side of the linlr pierces the outer ends of the blocks and the binding loops of the end row or section. The binding rod supports coiled springs 28, arranged at intervals and located at the spaces between the outer ends of the blocks through which the binding rod passes.

l/Vhat is claimed is :H

1. A mat of the class described including a plurality of spaced blocks arranged in rows, the 'blocks of each row being located at the terminals or spaces between the` blocks of the adjacent rows, and binding strips for each row bent at intervals to form opposite bends or loops, which embrace and extend entirely around the edges of the blocks to form a complete binding therefor, said. strips having intervening connecting portions secured together at the spaces between the blocks.

2. .fi .mat of the class described including a plurality of rows of spaced blocks, the blocks of each row being located at the intervals or spaces between the blocks of the adjacent rows, and binding strips for each row bent at intervals to form opposite bends or loops, which embrace land extend entirely around the edges oi the blocks to :t'orm a complete binding theret'or, said strips having interveningconnecting portions abutting` at the spaces between the blocks, the connecting abutting portions ot the adjacent rows being staggered, and fastening means located at the spaces between the blocks for securing the abutting portions ot' the binding strips together.

3. A mat of the class der-fcribed including a plurality oit spaced blocks arranged in rows, the liilocks oit each row being located at the intervals between the blocks ot the adjacent rows, a binding strip 'tot' each row bent at intervals to partially embrace the blocks, a co-acting binding strip also bent at intervals to partially embrace the blocks, said binding strips operating to 'term a complete binding which extends entirely around the edges ot' the blocks, said strips being brought together in abutting relation between each block, and fastening means for securing the strips together at the places where they abut.

4t. A mat oit the class described including a plurality of spaced blocks arranged in rows, the blocks ot each row being lo :ated at the intervals or spaces between the blocks of the adjacent rows, and binding strips tor each row bent at intervals to :t'orm corresponding loops or bends and straight intervening connecting portions, said loops or bends opening toward each other and fitted against the edges of the blocks and forming a complete binding around the same, and fastening means ttor securing the straiglit connecting portitms ot the binding strips together in abutting relation.

5. A mat oit the class described including a plurality ol rows o't` spaced blocks, the blocks of each row being arranged opposite the intervals between the blocks of the adjacent rows. binding strips arranged in pairs and extending along the rows and bowed at intervals and embracing the side edges of the blocks and extending com pletely around the same to lorm bindings therefor and secured together between the blocks, and rods piercing the blocks and the strips of the adjacent rows and retaining` the it'ormer in the said bindings.

(i. A mat oit the class described including a plurality oit' rows ogt spaced blocks, the blocks ot' each row being arranged opposite the intervals between the blocks oit the adA jacent rows, bintfling strips arranged in pairs and extending along the rows and bowed at intervals and embracing the side edges of the blocks and extending conn pletely around the saine to form bindings therefor and secured together between the blocks, and rods extending longittntinaily of the rows and piercing the, blocks and the bindings and hinging the rows o'lE bloelis to one another to .'torm a tlexible mat.

T. mat o'l the class described including a plurality ol rowsl ot spaced blocks, the blocks ogl each row being arranged opposite the intervals between the blocks ol the adjacent, rows, bindingI strips arranged in pairs and bowed at intervals and embracing the side edges ot the blocks and extending completely around the same to 'torm bindings therefor` pintle rods piercing` the end portions of the blocks and the strips and hinging the rows oit blocks to one another, and combined bracing and retaining rods extending longitudinally ot the rows and piercing the blocks and the strips at points intermediate ot the ends oi the said blocks to retain the latter in the said bindings.

S. ik mat olf the class described including a plurality oit rows olf spaced blocks, and binding strips arranged in pairs and oppositetv bowed at intervals to tit around and `toi-m completel bindings 't'or the said blocks,

the terminals ot the strips of the alternate rows being bent inwardly toward each other and terminating at the ends oi' the rows ot the blocks and the terminals ot the strips of the other rows being bent in opposite directions and overlapping the said inwardly bent terminals, and means tor connecting the terminals ot the strips ot the, several rows.

t). it mat ot the class described including a plurality oit rows oit? spaced blocks, and bindingI strips arranged in pairs and oppo siti-ly lrowed at intervals to tit around and :torni complete bindings 'for the said blocks and terminating at tho ends ot the said rows, the terminals oit' the strips of the alttn'nate rows being bent inwardly toward each other and the terminals otl the strips ot the other rows being bent in opposite directions and overlapping the said inwardly bent terminals, pintle rods piercing the blot-lis and the terminal portions of the said strips and having their ends bent against the inwardly extending terminals ot the said strips, and cap plates mounted on the said inwardly bent terminals and concealing the ends ot the pintle rods.

l0. A mat ot the class described including a plurality ol. rows ot' blocks arranged at intervals, binding strips arranged in pairs and oppositely bowed or bent at intervals to embrace and bind completely the edges of the blocks and tern'iinating at the ends ot the said rows, the terminals of the strips of the alternate. rowsl being bent inwardly toward each other and recessed at the upper and lower edges, and the terminals ot the strips ol the other rows being extended in the opposite direction and overlapping the said inwardly bent terminals, pintle rods piercing the overlapped end portions of the blocks and having their ends bent against as our own, We have hereto affixedv our sigthe sald lnwardly extendlng terlnlnals of natures 1n the presence of two Wltfnesses.

the said strips'7 and approximately U-shaped FRANK G Ef/ICPHERSON cap plates arranged on the recessed ter- @UOVA q MCPUFPQO lnnals of the sind strips and having Llanges *M *i A' *l J "U engaging back of the same and covering the UWitnesses: terminals of the said pnte rods. A. R. LEYDA,'

n testimony, that We claim the foregoing` EARL R. LEYDA.

Copies of 'this pateu may be obtaine for five cen-ts each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente.

Washington, D. G." v 

